About

Our Mission

We were founded in the midst of the Great Depression with the belief that Pennsylvanians must work together across neighborhoods, sectors, aisles and artificial geographic boundaries to improve government efficiency, eliminate wasteful spending and build a better future for our Commonwealth.

For over 75 years, we have assisted communities and state and local government leaders with the tools and information they need to ensure the most effective provision of essential public services. Our work is driven by our deep belief in the value of local communities and the role that government must play to ensure these communities have a sustainable future.

We believe government can and must be better, and we’re here to help.

Who We Are

We are the premier nonpartisan, public policy think tank for local and state government with offices in Wilkes-Barre, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Our wide-spread regional presence allows us to focus on a unified mission to improve the Commonwealth while tailoring our activities to meant the unique needs of our individual areas.

Our professional staff has a diverse background in finance, public administration, communications and school district policy. We are a 501(c)(3) educational and research organization financed by memberships from individuals, businesses, associations, institutions and foundations that share our vision for a better Pennsylvania.

Learn More

Find out how PEL’s expert staff can assist your municipality or school district in navigating difficult finances and related issues by clicking on the topics below.